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'{{Infobox Automobile | name = Escort RS Cosworth | image = [[File:1992FordEscort2.0Cosworth.jpg|255px]] | manufacturer = [[Ford Motor Company]] | parent_company = | aka = | production = 7,145 (total):<br />----------------<br /> 3,448 (1992)<br />1,143 (1993)<br />1,180 (1994)<br />1,306 (1995)<br />68 (1996) | production_start = 1992 | production_end = 1996 | model_years = | assembly = | predecessor = [[Ford Escort (Europe)#Ford Escort Mark IV .281986.E2.80.931990.29|Ford Escort RS Turbo]] | successor = [[Ford Focus RS]] | class = | body_style = 3-door [[hatchback]] | layout = front engine<br />[[Four-wheel drive]] | platform = | engine = [[Cosworth]] YBT 1993cc turbocharged [[Straight-4|I4]] Performance: Power 227hp/6250rpm - torque 310nm/3500rpm (95ron) Max speed 232-237km (without big rear wing) 0-100 5.7 - 6.1sec Lux edition | transmission 5 speed<br /> [[Borg Warner]] MT-75 | wheelbase = 2552 | length = 4211 mm | width = 1738 mm | height = 1405 mm | weight = 1275-1320 kg (Lux edition) | related = [[Ford Sierra RS Cosworth]] | designer = | sp = uk }} The '''Ford Escort RS Cosworth''' was a sports derivative of the [[Ford Escort (European)|Ford Escort]]. It was available from 1992-96 in very limited numbers. It was instantly recognisable due to its large "whale tail" rear spoiler. The main selling point was the [[Cosworth]] YBT engine, a highly tunable turbocharged 2-litre engine which had an output of {{convert|227|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on|lk=on}} in standard trim. Ford developed the car around the chassis and mechanicals of its predecessor, the [[Ford Sierra RS Cosworth|Sierra Cosworth]]. [[Ghia]] to accommodate the larger Cosworth engine and transmission, whilst clothing it in Escort body panels to make it resemble the standard Mk V. Designed under the guidance of Rod Mansfield and John Wheeler of Ford's SVO department, the styling was carried out during 1989, by [[Stephen Harper (Designer)|Stephen Harper]] at MGA Developments in Coventry. The body tooling was created coachbuilders Karmann at their facility in Rheine, Germany, from where the cars were manufactured. Changes were made to the engine management system and a new turbocharger was fitted. Permanent four wheel drive with a 34/66% front/rear split came courtesy of an uprated five speed gearbox as used in the Sierra Cosworth. [[Recaro]] sports seats came as a standard fitment. Later production models were available without the oversize tail spoiler although by far the majority were still ordered with it. Like its Sierra predecessor, they are commonly nicknamed "Cossie" by enthusiasts.<ref>[http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/36302/cossies_return.html Cossie's Return | evo News | News | evo<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Escort Cosworth was a rare car, with 7,145 vehicles produced from the start of production on 19 February 1992 until the last car rolled out of the factory on 12 January 1996. A tiny number were unofficially imported to the [[United States]], where it was considered one of the greatest performance Fords of all time. Two versions were produced. The initial 2500 units were "homologation specials" used to get the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] accreditation for entry into the [[World Rally Championship]]. They were fitted with a [[Garrett AiResearch|Garrett]] T3/T04B turbocharger. Among these initial units, a handful were badged as ''Motorsport'' versions, these lacked certain refinements such as a sunroof and sound deadening. The second generation, starting production from late 1994, were fitted with a Garrett T25 turbocharger, a smaller unit which reduced turbo lag and increased usability in everyday driving situations. With these later models, the 'whale tail' spoiler became a delete option. ==Motorsport== The car was to be Ford's new rally car, and very successful it became with its total victories amounting to 8 in [[Group A]] guise. Drivers included famous victor at the [[1994 World Rally Championship season|1994]] [[Monte Carlo Rally]], the [[Frenchman]] [[François Delecour]], future quadruple [[List of World Rally Championship Drivers' Champions|World Rally Champion]] [[Tommi Makinen]] (who took his maiden event victory for Ford in [[Finland]] that same year before departing for [[Mitsubishi]] for [[1995 World Rally Championship season|1995]]), as well as the [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[Bruno Thiry]] and, from [[1996 World Rally Championship season|1996]], [[1990 World Rally Championship season|1990]] and [[1992 World Rally Championship season|1992]] World Rally Champion [[Carlos Sainz]] of [[Spain]]. One-time [[1988 World Rally Championship season|1988]] and [[1989 World Rally Championship season|1989]] back-to-back title-winning force for [[Lancia]], [[Miki Biasion]] and [[1991 World Rally Championship season|1991]] [[Rally Catalunya]] winner [[Armin Schwarz]] were among the other fabled pilots to be seen behind the wheel. [[Image:Wilson Escort.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An Escort Cosworth on a stage rally, driven by [[Malcolm Wilson (rally)|Malcolm Wilson]]]] After modifications were made to the car to make it a [[World Rally Car]] for the [[1997 World Rally Championship season|1997]] and [[1998 World Rally Championship season|1998]] seasons, it went on to score two more victories for the [[Ford Motor Company Rally Team]], now based in [[Cumbria]] and being run by [[Malcolm Wilson (rally)|Malcolm Wilson]]'s [[M-Sport]]. With Thiry, [[Ari Vatanen]] (on a one-off podium-scoring basis at the [[Safari Rally]] after Thiry suffered an injury) and four-time World Rally Champion [[Juha Kankkunen]] now behind the wheel of the cars, the Escort name finally bowed out of works rallying altogether after a double-podium at the season-ending 1998 [[Rally of Great Britain]]. The Escort RS Cosworth was produced until early in 1996 when the [[European Union]] introduced a new set of noise regulations for motor vehicles and Ford decided to stop production rather than change the car to meet the new noise regulations. Despite this, the now-modified RS Cosworth was used by Ford as their factory rally car until it was permanently replaced by the [[Ford Focus WRC|Focus WRC]] for the [[Monte Carlo Rally]] of [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]]. ==References== <references /> ==External links== {{commonscat-inline}} {{Ford RS series}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ford Escort Rs Cosworth}} [[Category:Ford vehicles|Escort RS Cosworth]] [[Category:Hot Hatch]] [[Category:Rally cars]] [[ja:フォード・エスコート・コスワース]] [[fi:Ford Escort RS Cosworth]] [[sv:Ford Escort RS Cosworth]]'